Mobile supporting carriage for automatic washing machines and the like



Feb. 18, 1958 s, su 2,823,451

MOBILE SUPPORTING CARRIAGE FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKEFiled Nov. 16, 1956 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. sTEpHEN G'- $UHAN Feb.18, 1958 s. G. SUHAN 2,823,451

MOBILE SUPPORTING CARRIAGE FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES "AND THE LIKEI 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1956 [AIRM- INVENTOR. STEPHEN G- $UHANATTORNEYS United States Patent MOBILE SUPPORTING CARRIAGE 'FOR AUTO-Mfiz'llglc WASHING MACHINES AND THE L Stephen G. Suhan, East Chicago,Ind. Application November 16, 1956, Serial No. 622,698 3 Claims. (Cl.29- -28 8) The present invention 'relatesto improvements 'insupportingand carrying means for workpieces or similar articles and isparticularly directed to a mobilsupporting carriage for appliances, such'asautomatic washing machines, driers and the like.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide '.a mobilesupporting device for supporting an appliance,

:such as an automatic washing machine or thelike, where- .by the machinemay be easily serviced orrepaired by a :single workman.

Another important object of the presentinventionis ".to provide asupporting device for a workpiece, whereby I the workpiece canbemovedinto different positions" for more convenient and facile access tothe-workpiece by -;a serviceman.

Another important object of this invention-"is to provide :a supportingmeans onto which an aut-omatie'washing machine or similar equipment maybe secured and which supporting means may be adjusted to differentangular positions to dispose the operating mechanism of-the machine inconvenient positions for ready access by a serviceman.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a supportingand transporting device for washing machines and the like, whichdevice'is extremely simple and compact in construction, and is made upof a small number of parts for economical manufacture and assembly andwhich is extremely durable in-use.

The present invention comprehends the provision of a supporting frame,on which a machine; which is normally vertically disposed and has itsoperating mechanism located in the base portion, which is open, can beplaced in -avertical position. The frame is provided with dependingarcuate bars or rockers, which areadapted to be in ground engagement topermitthe frame to be tiltedfrom avertical position to a horizontalposition, so as to dispose the .machine in a horizontal positionandexpose the working mechanism thereof. Ground-engaging stabilizing legsare .gpivotally carried by the frame and are adapted to be posi- :tionedin various angular relationship therewith so as to :stabilize the framein its horizontal position and prevent the frame from rocking on thearcuate bars. Roller means is carried by the arcuate bars adjacent oneend thereof and is adapted to be in ground-engagement, when n-dottedlines in a vertical position, with "a washing ma- H chineshowu'inphantomlinesmounted thereon;

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FigureZ is-a -top plan-view" of the supporting and transportingcarriage;

Figure 3'- is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 ofFigure l;

Figur'e -4--is' a longitudinal vertical-sectional view taken on line'44"of Figure 2;-and

Figure 5 isa-detailed cross sectional view taken on lines-+5 of Figurel.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings,thesupportingand transporting carriage 10' includes a frame 12, which iscomposed of transversely spaced, para1lel angle irons l4 and 16. Theangle irons are coextensive in length and-are disposed in parallelismand are connected-at one end by'a transverse rod 18, which issuitably'fixed thereto, as by welding 20. The rod 18 constitutes ahandle means, as will be described.

Arcuate bars 22 and 24 are provided and are connected at their endsto-the opposing endsof each of the angle irons 14and-16.Suitablerigidifying means is provided and includesa pair of cross bracebars 26 and 28, which extend between opposing angleirons and arcuatebars,

- as shown in Figure 3. .The brace bars are connected at t lreir -low'er'endsto vertical brace bars 30, which-extend perpendicularly from thecenter=of the arcuate bars to'the center of the angle irons and aresuitably secured thereo, as -by welding.

Each o'r' theangle irons is provided with integral up--standing,--U-shaped keepers 32, whichare disposed in spaced. relationon each oft-he angle irons. The keepers are formed on'the angle irons inalignment transversely thereof and are adapted to support straps"-34,-which are adapted to encircle a workpiece, such as'the automaticwashing machine 36, shown in Figure l.

The angle irons are connected at their ends, opposite to the handle rod18, by a -flat plate'38, -which*seats"on and is-welded to the uppersurfaces "of the angle irons. The plate 38 is formed at its outer endWithan upstandin'g' flange40, which-constitutesan abutment against whichthebottom end of the machine 36' fits. Adjacent'the'other end of theangle irons, an adjustable abutment means 42 is provided and includes anangle iron 44, the horizontalflange-of which seats on theuppersurfaces-bfthe angle irons 14 and 16,-which are provided with axialslots '46 and 48 to receive bolt assemblies-50that"are carried by thehorizontal flange of the angle iron 44. By such means, theangle iron-44is adjustable, longitudinally of the angle irons 14 and 16 incooperation with-the fixed iabutment 40. Adjacent its center, theadjustable abutment 42 is 'providedwith a vertically adjustable section52, which includes a vertical plate54, that is formed'with a verticalslot 56 to receive a bolt assembly 58, which'iis carried by the verticalflange of the transverse-angle iron 44. "The plate terminates at itsupper end in an angle iron 60, which has its vertical flange disposedparallel to the fixed abutment 40. Thus, it can be seen .thatthe movableabutment 42 is adjustable longitudinallyof the frame and verticallythereof so as to cooperate. Withthe fixed abutment 40 andclampingly-engagingthe opposing endsof various workpieces. The straps34, anchored to the keepers 32, are adapted to encircle aworkpiece. Bysuch means, the workpiece is securely anchored onto the frame.

Means is provided for'stabilizing the frame 'initsjhorizontal positionso as to prevent the frame from rocking on the arcuate bars 22 and 24,when the-workpieceis being worked on or the machine 36', for'example,'isbeing serviced or repaired. Such means includes a pair ofilegs "60 and62, which are pivotally 'secured',1 as-at *64jto. the "vertical flangesof the angle irons "14and"i16,' adjacent the handle rod '18. Thelegsfareadapted. to depend from i the frame and-are provideddntermediatetheirends," with 3 axial slots 66, in which bolt assemblies 68 areadapted to slide. The bolt assemblies connect brace arms 70 with thelegs. The brace arms 70 are connected at one of their ends, by the boltassemblies 68, to the legs and are pivoted at their other ends to thevertical flanges of the angle irons 14 and 16, as shown in Figures 1 and2. The brace arms 70 are pivotally secured to the angle irons 14 and 16by a pivot assembly 72, which is shown in detail in Figure 5. Inaddition to the legs 60 and 62, the stabilizing means includes legs 74and 76, which are carried by the vertical bars 30. The legs 74 and 76extend downwardly and forwardly from the vertical bars 30 and areprovided, adjacent their upper ends, with axial slots 78, in which pivotassemblies 80 are mounted. The assemblies 72 and 80 are identical inconstruction and, as shown in Figure 5, the assembly 80 includes athreaded shaft 82, which is securely welded, as at 84, to the bars 30; Abearing member 86 is circumposed on the shaft and the legs 74 and 76slide against the outer end of the bearing. The nuts 88 are threaded onthe shaft to lock the legs in adjusted positions.

The lower ends of the legs are pivotally attached, as at 90, to arms 92,which extend upwardlytherefrom. The upper ends of the arms 92 arerotatably circumposed on an axle 94, which is welded as at 96 to theground-engaging arcuate bars 22 and 24, adjacent one of their ends.Rollers 98 are rotatably mounted on the projectingend of the axle 94 andextend beyond the frame andthe legs, as shown in Figure 3.

The work supporting and transporting device is constructed for use withany workpiece, appliance or type of equipment and is adapted to supportand transport such workpiece, appliance or equipment. However, it hasbeen found that the device 10 is particularly adaptable for use inservicing automatic washing machines, such as the machine 36. Inservicing such machines, which have their operating mechanism located atthe base, it is necessary to up-end the machine in order to obtainaccess to the operating mechanism.

In using the device 10, the frame is disposed in a vertical position andthe machine 36 is moved, in its upright position, onto the fixedabutment 40. The movable abutment 42 is then adjusted, so as toclampingly engage the top of the machine and cooperate with the fixedabutment 40 in clamping the machine on the support frame 12. The machineis securely anchored to the frame by encircling the straps 34 about themachine. The device, with the machine atached to the frame, can be movedto a desired position by grasping the handle rod 18 and moving the frameon the rollers 98. The device is then moved to a horizontal position bypulling down on the handle rod 18 and causing the frame to tilt or rockabout the arcuate bars 22 and 24. This disposes the frame in ahorizontal position, with the machine 36 lying in a horizontal position,so that the bottom thereof is completely exposed. To stabilize the framein such position, the legs 61, 62 and 74, 76 are locked in the positionshown in Figure 1, so that the legs are in ground engagement and preventthe frame from rocking on the bars 22 and 24. After the operatingmechanism of the machine has been serviced, the legs 74 and 76 are movedupwardly, into the dotted line position of Figure 4, and the legs 61 and62 are swung upwardly into the dotted line position of Figure 4. Theframe is then up-ended by pulling up on the handle rod 18, until therollers 98 come into engagement with the ground. The frame, with themachine thereon, can then be transported to any desired location.

While the preferred form of this invention has been described andillustrated herein, other forms may be realized, as come within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A supporting stand for an automatic washing machine or the likecomprising a frame having an upper side on which a machine may be placedon its side longitudinally of the frame, said frame having opposingsides and ends and an under side, means carried by the frame forsecurely anchoring the machine on the upperside thereof, arcuate groundengaging rocker bars secured to the frame adjacent the ends thereof anddisposed longitudinally below the underside thereof to support the framein a horizontal position, brace bars extending between the sides of theframe and the rocker bars, a handle means at one end of the frame formanually moving the frame into and from vertical and horizontalpositions about the rocker bars, shaft means on the rocker bars adjacentthe other end of the frame, rollers mounted on the shaft means andprotruding below the rocker bars, stabilizing legs pivotally mounted onthe shaft means at one of their ends and having opposing ends adapted toextend below the rocker bars for ground engagement, locking andadjusting arms pivotally connected to the stabilizing legs and meansadjustably securing the arms to the brace bars for locking thestabilizing legs in adjusted angular relation and depending positionsfrom the rocker bars when the frame is in a horizontal position.

a 2. A supporting stand for an automatic washing machine or the like,comprising a frame having an upper side on which a machine may be placedon its side longitudinally of the frame, said frame having opposingsides and ends and an underside, means carried by the frame for securelyanchoring the machine on the upper side thereof, arcuate ground engagingrocker bars secured to the frame adjacent the ends thereof and disposedlongitudinally below the underside thereof to support the frame in ahorizontal position, brace bars extending between the sides of the frameand the rocker bars, a handle means at one end of the frame for manuallymoving the frame into and from vertical and horizontal positions aboutthe rocker bars, shaft means on the rocker bars adjacent the other endof the frame, rollers mounted on the shaft means and protruding belowthe rocker bars, stabilizing legs pivotally mounted on the shaft meansat one of their ends and having opposing ends adapted to extend belowthe rocker bars for ground engagement, locking and adjusting armspivotally connected to the stabilizing legs and means adjustablysecuring the arms to the brace bars for locking the stabilizing legs inadjusted angular relation and depending positions from the rocker barswhen the frame is in a horizontal position, said last means includinglocking elements on the brace bars and said arms having axial slotsreceiving said locking means. I

3. A supporting stand for an automatic washing machine or the likecomprising a frame having an upper side on which a machine may be placedon its side longitudinally of the frame, said frame having opposingsides and ends and an underside, means carried by the frame for securelyanchoring the machine on the upper side thereof, arcuate ground engagingrocker bars secured to the frame adjacent the ends thereof and disposedlongitudinally below the underside thereof to support the frame in ahorizontal position, brace bars extending between the sides of the frameand the rocker bars, a handle means at one end of the frame for manuallymoving the frame into and from vertical and horizontal positions aboutthe rocker bars, shaft means on the rocker bars adjacent the other endof the frame, rollers mounted on the shaft means and protruding belowthe rocker bars, stabilizing legs pivotally mounted on the shaft meansat one of their ends and having opposing ends adapted to extend belowthe rocker bars for ground engagement, locking and adjusting armspivotally connected to the stabilizing legs and means adjustablysecuring the arms to the brace bars for locking the stabilizing legs inadjusted angular relation and depending positions from the rocker barswhen the frame is in a horizontal position, additional stabilizing legspivotally mountedon the frame at the one end thereof and adapted toextend therefrom into ground engagement and locking bars pivoted to theframe and adjust- 5 6 ably connected to such legs for securing the legsin selected 1,487,669 Shiffner Mar. 18, 1924 angular positions relativeto the frame. 1,974,675 Hoedl Sept. 25, 1934 2,559,028 Oberwegner July3, 1951 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 FOREIGN PATENTSUNITED STATES PATENTS 11,458/28 Australia Jan. 7, 1929 Re. 8,563 WiggersJan. 28, 1879 376,029 Great Britain July 7, 1932

